- McGrory to rejoin the Boston Globe as editor in January 2026
- His return aims to strengthen digital subscription growth and local investigative reporting
- The newsroom’s structure and digital focus set to evolve amid industry challenges
Brian McGrory will return as editor of the Boston Globe in January, the company said on Monday, marking a comeback to the newspaper where he spent more than three decades and previously led the newsroom from 2012 until early 2023.
His reappointment offers clues about how this leading metro paper intends to navigate the next phase of digital transformation and local journalism sustainability.
Boston Globe Media said McGrory “brings a distinguished record of leadership, innovation, and journalistic excellence” from his earlier tenure and from subsequent roles in academia and nonprofit news. During his decade as editor, the Globe won multiple Pulitzer Prizes, expanded its digital reporting and restructured its newsroom, steps the company credited with significant growth in digital subscriptions.
After leaving the Globe, McGrory became chair of Boston University’s journalism department, where he launched a Local News Initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among nonprofit and independent outlets across New England. He also held several leadership roles at a nonprofit news organisation in Baltimore, serving as a board member, strategic adviser and at times interim chief executive and editor. That outlet won its first Pulitzer Prize during his involvement.
“Brian’s passion for the Globe and his love of Boston are deeply intertwined,” said Linda Henry, chief executive of Boston Globe Media. “We are thrilled to welcome Brian back and look forward to the work our world-class newsroom will continue to do under his leadership.”
McGrory said the return was unexpected. “Life doesn’t always follow plans, and this wasn’t part of mine,” he said. “But pretty much my entire career has been tied to the Globe, proudly so, and I’m honored to return and play what I hope will be a helpful role during this complicated moment in the region and beyond.”
“We’ll continue to drive the Globe forward,” he said. “I arrive back with some added experiences from my time away, the Globe is in a different place than when I left, and the industry has entirely new challenges to face. It was the honor of my life to be the editor once. It is something even beyond that now.”
McGrory’s reappointment comes as regional publishers search for sustainable business models amid declining print advertising and continued industry consolidation. Analysts have pointed to the Globe’s focus on digital subscriptions and events as central to diversifying revenue and supporting long-term investment in journalism.
His return will be closely watched for signals about editorial priorities, including the balance between local investigative work, partnerships with nonprofit newsrooms and the paper’s digital-first strategy.
Colleagues say McGrory’s first tenure was marked by structural changes to beats and a stronger emphasis on digital storytelling, a combination credited with awards recognition and audience growth. He moved into management after reporting roles that included national and White House correspondence and a stint as a metro columnist, bringing reporting experience into newsroom leadership.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-boston-globe-names-brian-mcgrory-as-editor-302642449.html – Original press release. View link for all data
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-boston-globe-names-brian-mcgrory-as-editor-302642449.html – On December 15, 2025, The Boston Globe announced that Brian McGrory will return as editor, effective January 5, 2026. McGrory, who previously served as editor from 2012 to early 2023, brings a distinguished record of leadership and journalistic excellence. After his tenure at the Globe, he became chair of the Journalism Department at Boston University and launched the Local News Initiative, fostering collaboration among local nonprofit and independent news organisations across New England. McGrory has also held leadership roles at The Baltimore Banner, one of the nation’s fastest-growing nonprofit news organisations.
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/about/staff-list/columnist/brian-mcgrory/ – Brian McGrory is an opinion columnist for The Boston Globe. For a decade-long stretch ending in early 2023, he was the editor of the Globe. He arrived at the Globe in 1989, and has been a Metro columnist, the Metro editor, a White House correspondent, national reporter, general assignment reporter, and a suburban reporter. He won the Scripps-Howard award for commentary and the Sigma Delta Chi award for general column writing in 2011. The Globe newsroom was awarded three Pulitzer Prizes during his tenure as editor and was a finalist another dozen times.
- https://www.boston.com/news/media/2022/09/07/brian-mcgrory-to-step-down-as-globe-editor/ – Brian McGrory, editor of The Boston Globe, plans to step down by the end of the year, wrapping up a pivotal 10-year run in which the paper reclaimed its independence, won three newsroom Pulitzer Prizes, and accelerated the Globe’s digital success even as the viability of daily print journalism was in doubt. McGrory, who started at the Globe in 1989 and worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist before being named to the top newsroom job, said he will become chair of Boston University’s journalism department. He will also write an opinion column for the Globe.
- https://www.thewrap.com/boston-globe-names-brian-mcgrory-editor-70341/ – The Boston Globe named Brian McGrory editor on Thursday, replacing Marty Baron, who stepped down earlier this month to become editor of the Washington Post. McGrory, a longtime columnist and editor for the paper’s Metro section, joined the Globe in 1989 and has served in a variety of positions, covering the White House, national politics and local Massachusetts affairs. ‘Brian built a strong team of reporters and editors during his tenure in the newsroom — a team that regularly beat the competition on major stories,’ publisher Christopher M. Mayer wrote in an email to the newsroom, obtained by TheWrap.
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/07/business/brian-mcgrory-step-down-globe-editor// – Brian McGrory, editor of The Boston Globe, plans to step down by the end of the year, wrapping up a pivotal 10-year run in which the paper reclaimed its independence, won three newsroom Pulitzer Prizes, and expanded the Globe’s digital reach even as the viability of daily print journalism was in doubt. McGrory, who started at the Globe in 1989 and worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist before being named to the top newsroom job, said on Wednesday that he will become chair of Boston University’s journalism department. He will also write an opinion column for the Globe.
- https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/12/20/statement-from-publisher-christopher-mayer-naming-brian-mcgrory-new-boston-globe-editor/ – Boston Globe Publisher Christopher Mayer released the following statement to staff announcing the selection of Brian McGrory as the news organization’s next editor. I’m delighted to announce today that Brian McGrory is our next editor of the Boston Globe, effective immediately. Brian has distinguished himself throughout his career here, and I believe he will provide the vision and inspiring leadership that we need to continue the Globe’s tradition of quality journalism. Brian built a strong team of reporters and editors during his tenure in the newsroom – a team that regularly beat the competition on major stories. He led the staff in a comprehensive investigation of corruption and cronyism on Beacon Hill that eventually led to resignations and indictments. The newsroom also reported extensively on public pension abuses and a city system that bestowed benefits on favored developers.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the announcement made on 15 December 2025. No earlier publications of this specific content were found. The report originates from PR Newswire, a reputable press release distribution service, indicating a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The content is not recycled or republished across low-quality sites.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Linda Henry and Brian McGrory are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting original content. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from PR Newswire, a reputable press release distribution service, indicating a high level of reliability. The Boston Globe is a well-established and reputable organisation, further supporting the credibility of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about Brian McGrory’s return as editor of The Boston Globe are plausible and consistent with his previous tenure and recent activities. The narrative aligns with known facts about McGrory’s career and the Globe’s recent developments. No inconsistencies or implausible elements were identified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and originates from a reliable source. The quotes are unique, and the claims are plausible and consistent with known facts. No credibility risks were identified, leading to a high-confidence assessment.
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